Argentina marks Engineering Day, noting rise in women engineers and low public‑works investment

June 6 marks Engineering Day in Argentina, commemorating Luis Augusto Huergo, the country's first civil engineering graduate in 1870, and celebrating the profession's role in infrastructure, energy and sustainable development.

During the launch of a "month of engineering," Hernán Alonso, president of the 3rd district of the College of Engineers of Buenos Aires province, highlighted a sharp increase in female enrolment, saying, "Por fortuna viene subiendo mucho la matrícula de mujeres en ingeniería, como así también la inscripción en la carrera." He also warned that public‑works funding is dramatically low, noting, "Tenemos una inversión en obras públicas que está en el orden del 0,3%, cuando países desarrollados están en el 4% al 6% y en Latinoamérica promedia el 2% o 2,5%." The funding gap hampers projects and limits job opportunities for new graduates, forcing many engineers to seek work in private renewable‑energy projects or in mining regions such as Vaca Muerta.